How'd he get missed?
Big Dan | Omaha, NE United States | 01/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd read a little history about Mr. Nichols a few years ago; and it is a sad one, to say the least, but had never heard any of his music. I recently purchased this cd, and all I can say is, I don't get HOW he was overlooked! Soon as I began listening, I got him. At times, I hear similarities to Ahmad Jamal; other times It's kind of a toss between Monk and Bill Evans. Nichols definitely had it, though; his own sound. You just have to listen to it. I'll definitely be getting the box set soon as I can."
Nichols is a "Mood Poet"
Avid--reader | 01/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am not the most eloquent reviewer. In fact, I didn't want to write a review for this album because I was afraid I won't do it justice.
All I can say is that Herbie Nichols is a "Mood Poet."
We've all heard about "tone poems." Herbie Nichols creates these "Mood poems" using the keys on the piano to paint these strange and unique "moods" and "atmospheres." I've never heard anything else like it.
Included in the CD is a short essay written by Nichols himself that offers some insight into his composotional style. It shouldn't coem as a surprise that Nichols considered himself a poet as much as a musician. Despite all the tragic circumstances of his life (which I won't go into here) and the neglect he suffered, I got the sense that he was an optimistic man who used poetry and music to contribute more beauty to the world.
The world always needs more beauty, and Nichols the "Mood poet" showed us a very unique kind of beauty."
"ANOTHER LATE,GREAT JAZZ PIANIST!!!"
Dan Celli,X,DJ. | SAN FRANCISCO,CA | 10/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"IN THE EARLY 60'S WHEN I WOULD VISIT A FRIEND OF MINE,I WOULD ASK IF HE WOULD PLAY 'THAT
'HOUSE PARTY' SONG OR THAT 'SPINNING'TUNE FROM NICHOLS ALBUM. FINALLY, I OWN ONE OF HIS CD'S.
THESE RECORDINGS WERE RECORDED WHEN HE WAS IN HIS MID-30'S. HE DIED IN 1963 ABOUT 8 YEARS
LATER. IF YOU LIKE RICHARD TWARDZIK,HASAAN,ELMO HOPE,YOU'LL BE PLEASED WITH THESE 35 TRACKS.
(OVER 2 HOURS.) LOTS OF ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS. LOT'S OF MINOR THEMES & DIMINISH CHORDS +
LOWER REGISTER BEING WORKED OVER WITH HIS LEFT HAND. GROUPS OF THE MIDDLE&UPPER NOTES JUMPING UP HERE AND
THERE ALL RELATED TO THE THEME. IT'S SO MUCH FUN LISTENING TO THIS TRUE ORIGINAL ARTIST.
I HAVE A HUGE JAZZ PIANO COLLECTION. THIS BELONGS WITH THE GREAT PIANO RECORDINGS I ALREADY
HAVE. BESIDES HIS ORIGINAL TUNES,HE PLAYS STANDARDS WITH A MORE TAME STYLE. BUT,NOT THAT
TAME! HE USES THICK 2 HANDED CHORDS IN PLAYING SOME OF THE TUNES. SOME ARE IN THE MIDDLE
AND SOME ARE CLOSER TO THE LOWER REGISTER. "HOUSE PARTY STARTING" MY FAVORITE. I USUALLY
PLAY IT TWICE OR MORE. BUT ,EVERY TRACK IS A GEM!!!"